Teenagers lauded for bond amid bloodshed

Two Jerusalem teenage girls, one Israeli and one Palestinian, whose letter-writing friendship turned into an ode to peace for the Middle East, will be awarded Germany's new national Quadriga prize.

Odelia Ainbinder and Amal Rifa'i, whose moving letters to each other offer glimpses of Middle East tensions from two different worlds, were to receive the €50,000 ($85,000) "Bridges of Reconciliation" award at the gala ceremony yesterday.

Their book, We Just Want to Live Here: a Palestinian Teenager, an Israeli Teenager - an Unlikely Friendship, written with journalist Sylke Tempel, has been a best-seller in Germany this year and has just been published in the US.

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The two girls grew up a few minutes apart. They met on a student exchange program in Zurich, Switzerland, four years ago. Overcoming initial prejudices, they became friends and maintained their unusual relationship upon returning home.

"We're just two girls who love life," said Rifa'i, 18, a Palestinian student from East Jerusalem studying special education. "Odelia understands my situation. Our wish is for a different environment. We want to live in peace."

Ainbinder, 19, said Rifa'i had trouble understanding why she joined the Israeli Army while Rifa'i recalls Ainbinder unintentionally insulted her soon after they met by inviting her for drinks, unaware devout Muslims do not drink alcohol.

"There's a war going on so it's not easy," said Ainbinder, from West Jerusalem, who wants to become an actress.

"But I think you have to sit down and talk to each other to understand each other. I hope our friendship and this book will help make a difference."

Tempel, a Middle East correspondent for German and Swiss media since 1994, encouraged the two girls to exchange their feelings in the letters covering topics such as the Palestinian uprising and the Israeli occupation.

The Quadriga prizes, to be awarded on Germany's Unification Day holiday each year, were also to be presented to Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Latvian Prime Minister, Einars Repse, for their work promoting European integration.